PlayStation tops gift guide

By Doug Elfman Special to the Times Union

Published
12:36 am EST, Friday, November 26, 2010

The PlayStation 3 by Sony retails for $300-$400. It plays a spectrum of available games; plays Netflix, Blu-ray and DVD; allows you to surf online; holds video, music and photos; and is a 1080p high-definition system. (Sony) less

The PlayStation 3 by Sony retails for $300-$400. It plays a spectrum of available games; plays Netflix, Blu-ray and DVD; allows you to surf online; holds video, music and photos; and is a 1080p high-definition ... more

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The PlayStation 3 by Sony retails for $300-$400. It plays a spectrum of available games; plays Netflix, Blu-ray and DVD; allows you to surf online; holds video, music and photos; and is a 1080p high-definition system. (Sony) less

The PlayStation 3 by Sony retails for $300-$400. It plays a spectrum of available games; plays Netflix, Blu-ray and DVD; allows you to surf online; holds video, music and photos; and is a 1080p high-definition ... more

PlayStation tops gift guide

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I feel your pain. It's intimidating to stare at a zillion video game choices in stores, then choose the right gift for the right person.

So let me cut through the clutter for you.

Your question: Which game system is best?

Answer: If you have $300 to $400 burning a hole in your pocket, the PS 3 is beckoning.

The Xbox 360 used to have an edge in games, but no more. Most games come out for both Xbox 360 and PS 3.

There are some Xbox-only games, especially the "Halo" series, "Alan Wake" and downloadable gems like "Limbo."

But the PS 3 has its own exclusive games, especially the "God of War" and "Uncharted" series.

Meanwhile, only the PS 3 comes with free online gaming (Xbox Live costs $50 a year). Only the PS 3 has a Blu-ray player and high-def Web surfing.

And you can use both Xbox 360 and PS 3 to watch movies instantly from Netflix online. (Wii has Netflix, but not in high definition.)

q: But doesn't the Xbox 360 have a new Wii-esque add-on called Kinect?

A: Yes. Kinect is a $150 add-on. And Sony has its $100 Wii-esque add-on called Move. However, both are too new and expensive for me to take seriously. Plus, there are no must-have Kinect or Move games yet, so why bother?

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The Wii is also a good choice for new gamers, women and older people who want to own games for the first time, because Wii is easy to get a grip on, and its interactive games are fun for casual players.

q: Are handheld systems OK?

A: The Sony PSP is an amazing machine, but almost no new game disks are made for it anymore. So if you're buying for a child, go with Nintendo DSi. It's a kid magnet.